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Kyushu - Earth Dance Retreat
Takachiho - Heitate - Mt. Aso January 11, 12, 13, 2003
Takachiho Gorge Each year we create an Awakening Journey to a special location in early January to bring in the New Year and retreat into nature. This year we have chosen the Takachiho area of Kyushu as our retreat destination, including Heitate Shrine, Takachiho Gorge, and Mount Aso. Join us for relaxation, adventure and quality time in nature as we explore some of the best sites in this scenic area. Resonance with the seven elements of nature to sharpen our awareness will be a focus to practice. Talks, meditations and shamanic perspectives will be included throughout the retreat, plus plenty of sight-seeing time. Sand Mandalas -- We will be creating personal mandalas as a meditation, using sand from many parts of the world to symbolically bring Earth energies together during the retreat. A ceremony at the top of Mt. Aso will send our mandala energies and goodwill to the Earth and the world at the start of this new era. Gather around the hearthfire for charcoal cooking of delicious stew and other local fare in traditional style. Explore the beauty and mystery of Kyushu with new friends and welcome the New Year refreshed in Nature!
Heitate Shrine Heitate Shrine At least one day of the retreat will be reserved for special ceremony and sharing our energies to honor the Earth, humanity, peace and abundance. We are inspired to focus here to acknowledge and encourage a new movement from tribal consciousness in humanity to its next evolutionary stage. See: More about Heitate Jingu »
Komezuka inside Mt. Aso caldera Retreat Schedule 1/11 - Retreat starts at 2:00 pm. 1/12 - Takachiho area, including the legendary Ama-no-Iwato cave where Sun Goddess Amaterasu-Omikami is said to have hidden. Evening program and Inner Journey. 1/13 - Mount Aso area. Communicating with nature and more shamanic practices.
Kagura 1/14 - Overnight formal Kagura performance - you may choose to stay an extra day to observe. Kagura dances are performed through the night in appreciation of a good harvest. The art form is designated as one of Japan's intangible cultural assets. The performances by these masked dancers lead the viewers into a mystic world of myths and legends.
WHERE: Soyokaze Park Town - Kumamoto, Kyushu WHEN: January 11, 12, 13 COST: 48,000 yen including accomodation and meals. Facilitator: Flint Flintoft - Awakening Journeys Guide 
Please contact us for reservation details »
A Few Scenes from the Kyushu Jan 2003 Retreat
Shamanic Dance at Heitate Shrine to open our Earth Dance Retreat 
Delicious miso and vegetable stew cooking in cast iron over charcoal embers. 
Charcoal cooking: Fresh fish, chicken yakitori, konnyaku, tofu, dango, negi, and shitake mushrooms. The next evening we sampled wild boar stew (inoshishi) -- very hearty indeed! 
Takachiho - Amano Yasukawara Cave - The legendary Gods gathered here to plan how to coax the Sun Goddess Amaterasu Omikami from another nearby cave where she had hidden to avoid the mischief of her brother Susanoo. Umenouzume danced a provocative dance at the cave entrance. The laughter among the other Kami beckoned Amaterasu's curiosity. 
Amaterasu Omikami emerged from the cave, bringing radiant light and warmth back to the world. (Click picture to see full size.) 
13 sand samples from Flint's personal collection from around the planet. 
The sand mandalas we created symbolically connected energies from around the world. 
Mt. Aso Caldera -- Elevation (1592 m / 5223 feet). 
Mt. Aso - Casting our mandala sand into the steaming volcano on a chilly morning with ice and snow in January 2003. 
Here we closed our Kyushu Earth Dance retreat with our blessings for the Earth and a new era of consciousness for humanity.
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